The public has the opportunity to speak on all items listed on the agenda prior to the Board taking final action. Once the Chair has opened the item for discussion, citizens wishing to speak should approach the front podium, state their name, and direct questions or comments to the Chair.

Any written material to be distributed should be given to Clerk of the Board staff.  If you intend to distribute materials during the meeting, please bring ten (10) copies. You can also upload these materials via eComment prior to the meeting start, at which point they will become part of the meeting record. You can access eComment by going to the agendas and minutes list and selecting the "eComment" hyperlink next to the meeting for which you are wanting to submit a comment. 

Every agenda includes Public Expression for matters not on the agenda. This item is limited to matters under the jurisdiction of the Board which are not on the posted agenda and items which have not already been considered by the Board. Testimony will be limited to three (3) minutes per person and not more than ten (10) minutes on a particular subject at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken on those items discussed as part of Public Expression.

Applause or other displays of approval or disapproval are inappropriate during Board proceedings and are strongly discouraged.

For more information on all civic engagement methods (including information relating to the Hybrid Meeting process), call Mendocino County Clerk of the Board at (707) 463-4441 or visit our public engagement page.

The agenda is the official guide for Board meetings. Prepared by the Clerk of the Board in consultation with Board members and Administration, the agenda includes current legislative and policy issues which must be reviewed by the full Board. By law, the Board cannot take action on items or issues which are not listed on the Agenda.

Items usually are placed on the agenda at the request of Board or County staff members. Citizens who would like the Board to review a particular item should send a formal written request to the Clerk of the Board or their respective Supervisor. The item will be reviewed and the citizen will be notified of any pending Board action or follow-up.

The deadline to submit agenda items is noon on Monday, fifteen days prior to the Board meeting.

Agendas are printed/posted 72 hours prior to the Board meetings. The agenda is posted in hardcopy format at the County Administration Center and electronically here. A complete copy of the agenda and supporting materials are available for review in the County Executive Office.

Meetings are live streamed and available for viewing online one the Mendocino County YouTube page, at https://www.youtube.com/MendocinoCountyVideo or by toll-free, telephonic live stream at 888-544-8306.

The public may participate digitally in meetings in lieu of personal attendance. For details and a complete list of the latest available options by which to engage with agenda items, please visit: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/board-of-supervisors/public-engagement

Rules of Procedure, Adopted July 12, 2022, Resolution 22-057

The Consent Calendar is a list of agenda items which either implement an earlier Board action or require review by the Board. Only one motion is needed for the adoption of all items listed on the Consent Calendar. Any Board member, staff, or citizen may request that specific items be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion and/or action.

Items to be Continued are agenda items, usually regarding land use planning issues, where the Board has received a request for continuation to a future meeting. Those citizens who wish to address the Board on the continued item, but will be unable to attend a future meeting, will be offered an opportunity to speak.

General Business includes all items which will be reviewed by the Board at the scheduled meeting.

A Quorum of three Board members is needed to convene a meeting for formal action on agenda items.

Closed Session are meetings where the Board specifically addresses personnel or litigation matters. For reasons of confidentiality specified by law (Brown Act, Government Code Section 54950, et seq), a closed session is the only Board meeting not open to the general public.

Minute Orders are the least formal of Board actions and can be used to establish Board policy and procedures. A minute order is the most common Board action for dealing with an agenda item.

Ordinances are County laws affecting the general health, safety, and welfare of the public. All ordinances, except those dealing with specific zoning, become part of the County Code. With the exception of emergency ordinances and ordinances which required a public hearing, all ordinances must go through two readings or presentations at two separate Board meetings. The majority of ordinances do not become effective until thirty days after the approval of the second reading.

Resolutions are formalized Board motions and are filed by number in the Clerk of the Board's office. Resolutions become effective upon passage.

Information on Boards and Commissions is available here.  Vacancies are advertised ten days prior to appearing on the Board's agenda.